Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c10.139

c10.139

Tales about tīrthas (the second group) generally introduce the marvellous or mythology, and it is rare to find any that are rational. So also tales that commend doctrines, rites and observances (the third group) are much the same in their character. Yet a few may be discovered that are rather of an ordinary kind, such as, among the former class, the story of Āpastamba-tīrtha,¹ and that of Bhānu-tīrtha where however the collocation of Madhucchandas with Śaryāti is absurd;² and among the latter class, the story of king Suvrata³ and that of some of Kṛṣṇa's wives who were ravished by bandits after his death.⁴